Shimla: Geared up to host national party president Nitin Gadkari, BJP has decided to term the proposed rally to be addressed by him on Sunday as ‘Nyayah Rally’ against the discrimination meted out to a opposition ruled state by the Manmohan Singh led UPA government.
Speaking to the media, Khimmi Ram, state BJP president said, “from cutting short the 10 year industrial package granted by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to reducing state quota of subsidized rations, lesser allocation granted by the 13th Finance Commission and not settling the long pending issue of royalty from power projects such as those owned by Bhakra Beas Management Board are all cumulatively harming the interests of Himachal Pradesh.”
Since industrialization is a slow process, the industrial package needed to be extended beyond the original 2013 period to 2050, if the hill state is truly to benefit from it, said Khimmi Ram.
The rally to be addressed by party president Nitin Gadkari would highlight the discriminatory attitude of UPA government towards states ruled by the main opposition party, he said.
Gadkari maiden two-day visit after become BJP president, starts on Saturday.
He said that it was ironic that despite their being two representatives from the state in prime minister Manmohan Singh’s cabinet, yet they had failed to protect the interests of the state.
BJP would continue to fight for the states just rights and if need be would not hesitate to take the matter to court about curtailing the states industrial package, he added.
Critical of the state congress party’s, he said, “after having agreed to be part of a joint delegation and making common ground about raising termination of the industrial package with the prime minister, now the state congress president Kaul Singh had changed his stance and says that they would meet him separately.”
“The congress is playing a dubious role, which the people can see through”, he added.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
Dear Makhaik
I could not apprehend the illogical demand of Mr Ram to extend Industrial package till 2050. The question is that how long government would have to thrive the industrial houses to remain in the state. The benefit being given to these houses should be time specific rather than for long time.
Industries should come in the state but govt need to identified areas in the state and why it should be set on the cost of state expenses if they are not viable at all.
If state does not recover any taxes or levy from the industrial units how state would claim its due in central plan on account of its share in Taxes. How long this tiny state would remain depend on the mercy of union government. Out leaders are not responsible to what they speak and what is diserable.
Type of industries need to be supported in the state should be area specific as food processing, tourism and agro-industires etc.
There should be survey on the total benfits being given till now and its utilitiy to generate employment and other adventage to this hill state.
Our subsidised electirc power, land and infrastructure are not being used by industires. The peacfully and worth living environment is not being detoriated by effulent being coming out from these clutter of industrial township.
Does there so much capcity in our nature to consume toxic substance continued being pumped in the atmosphere and later cleaned by the depleting forests.
We must reconcile to extent of industires before freely opening gate to large number of investment. How long government would provide resource and other facility to profit the industrial houses on the cost of depriving the common men from even their basic rights.
ML Verma
Shimla